Israel Says Iran Giving “False Explanations” to UN Nuclear Inquiry

Israel has condemned as unacceptably slow Iran’s cooperation with a UN watchdog inquiry into suspected nuclear bomb research and accused Tehran of providing “false” explanations for its disputed activities. Israel’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency suggested Iran was just trying to buy time while pressing on with its nuclear work.

“Iran continues to abuse what is termed as a ‘step-by-step’ approach to the resolution of outstanding issues,” Israeli Ambassador Merav Zafary-Odiz said. “This pace of investigation is unacceptable….Iran will continue to provide false explanations and to hide the true nature of its activities.”

Meanwhile, it is increasingly unlikely that six world powers and Iran will meet their July 20 deadline to negotiate a long-term deal for Tehran to curb its nuclear program in return for an end to economic sanctions, diplomats and analysts say. The November 24agreement on an interim deal allowed for a six-month extension if more time were needed.

The latest round of talks in Vienna last month ran into difficulties when it became clear that the number of centrifuge enrichment machines Iran wanted to maintain was well beyond what would be acceptable to the West.